December 5th, 2016

On today's episode of the podcast we're talking about product development with my guest, Annie Unrein. A creative lifetime quilter, Annie Unrein of Patterns by Annie and ByAnnie.com has been designing patterns and teaching since 2000. With a focus on practical and useful projects, Annie's patterns appeal to a sewists of all ages and levels.

Annie is the creator of ByAnnie's Soft and Stable, an innovative product she designed to add body, stability and a professional finish to purses, bags, home dec items, and more.

A popular instructor, Annie teaches online and also travels worldwide to teach. She loves sharing techniques for making sewing bags and purses easier while yielding professional results.

Annie is based in St. George, Utah, where she and her energetic team operate the popular website ByAnnie.com. They are your source for patterns, Soft and Stable, handbag zippers in over 48 colors, purse hardware, mesh, vinyl, and more.

Annie talks about building a pattern business from scratch, developing signature products, and business growth. And, of course, I ask Annie to recommend great stuff she's enjoying right now.

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This episode is sponsored by Modern Patchwork Magazine, a publication from F+W media known for its fresh and contemporary quilt patterns, in-depth designer profiles, and inspirational articles. Whether you are just beginning to quilt and love the modern look, or are a seasoned quilter looking for contemporary patchwork projects of every skill level, Modern Patchwork is the magazine for you. And now it’s available six times a year AND as a subscription. Visit quilting daily.com/mpsubscribe for more information.

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Get the show notes for this episode and subscribe to my weekly email newsletter on my blog, whileshenaps.com.

November 21st, 2016

On today's episode we're talking about building a career as an artist and illustrator with my guest, Jennifer Judd-McGee.

Jennifer Judd-McGee is a full time artist and mother living and working in Mount Desert Island, Maine. She describes herself as a nature lover, obsessive doodler, path finder, and appreciator of paper, fine point pens, and detailed patterns. Jennifer creates papercuts, illustrations, mixed media collage and monoprints that are reflective of her surroundings. She shows her work in galleries and licenses it to companies around the country.

Jen talks about living with Multiple Sclerosis, transitioning into being a full-time artist, licensing work to commercial clients including Target and Land of Nod, creating fine art for galleries and so much more. Jen struggles with self-promotion and we talk about strategies she's used to overcome her discomfort. This is a gentle, honest conversation and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

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This episode is sponsored by Made By Rae. Made By Rae is an independent sewing pattern company specializing in simple, modern clothing designs for women and children. Designer Rae Hoekstra brings you sewing patterns that are easy to follow and learn from, with a focus on good fit. Whether you are just beginning to sew or have been sewing for years, you’ll love how approachable and versatile these patterns are. Use the special offer code WHILESHENAPS to get 10% off your next purchase in the Made by Rae shop. Offer expires December 31, 2016.

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Get the show notes for this episode on my blog, whileshenaps.com, where you can also sign up for my email newsletter to get the best in sewing, blogging, and small business delivered right to your inbox each week.

November 7th, 2016

On today’s episode of the While She Naps podcast we’re talking about building a business as a crafter with my guest, Jennifer Perkins.

Jennifer Perkins is an Austin, TX based creative consultant. During
her lengthy career in the craft industry she has run a successful
jewelry business (Naughty Secretary Club), hosted television shows
(Craft Lab and Stylelicious on DIY Network), been the editor in chief of
a magazine (Kids Crafts 1-2-3 started by Walmart) and everything
in-between. Her distinct style and love of color and kitsch has followed her throughout all of these adventures.

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This episode is sponsored by StoryPatches.
No quilt is complete without a label – yet many quilters skip this
critical last step! StoryPatches Quilt Labels make labeling a breeze.
Your voice and your story matter to your family and friends – and
StoryPatches are the perfect way to capture and connect that story.
These ready to use labels come in a variety of designs to match your
quilt and take the pain out of labeling. Use the offer code Naps to get
20% off your net order at storypatches.com.

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Get the show notes for this episode on my blog, whileshenaps.com. where you can sign up for my email newsletter to get the best in sewing, blogging, and small business delivered right to your inbox each week.

October 17th, 2016

On today's episode of the While She Naps podcast we’re talking about
quilting, painting, and living a creative life with my guest Melissa Averinos.

Melissa Averinos paints, makes quilts, and writes craft books.

She
won a Judge's Choice Award at QuiltCon 2015 for her quilt 'face #1' and
won Best In Show at QuiltCon 2016 for her quilt 'My Brother's Jeans'.

Melissa
travels nationally to teach her signature class ‘Making Faces with
Melissa’ at quilt shops, guilds and retreats such as QuiltCon and Craft
Napa. Melissa is the author of seven books. Her first coloring book for C&T Publishing, Awesome Town, was released in September of 2016.

This episode is sponsored by Indygo Essentials. Indygo Junction’s founder Amy Barickman has architected a new boutique apparel brand, Indygo Essentials.
Watch the Essentials video to see the six current patterns and use coupon code WSN22 for 20% on your entire order. Be sure to sign-up for Indygo Junction’s newsletter to receive a free pattern each month and stay up-to- date on new pattern releases.

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Get the show notes for this episode on my blog, whileshenaps.com, where you can also sign up for my email newsletter to get the best in sewing, blogging, and small business delivered right to your inbox each week.

October 3rd, 2016

I'm talking with Mickey Krueger, the president of Windham Fabrics, one of the leading manufacturers of quilting cottons today. We recorded this show in front of a studio audience at Sew Pro, a sewing conference in Chicago in mid-September 2016.

If you're interested designing fabric, or if you're just curious how this side of the quilting industry works, this episode is for you. Mickey explains how Windham chooses new designers and exactly what he's looking for. He takes us through the fabric manufacturing process from start to finish. We also talk about local quilt shops, Fabric.com, fabric sellers on Etsy, how Quilt Market has changed, and much more.

This episode is sponsored by pattern and book publisher, Indygo Junction Indygo Junction’s new brand Fabriflair offers kits and patterns for dimensional paper piecing. Watch this Radiant Star Fabriflair video to learn about the product and the process of making these functional and decorative objects. Showcase your favorites fabrics, embroidery or treasured textiles! Visit IndygoJunction.com and use this code for a 20% discount on your entire order: WSN20

September 19th, 2016

On today's episode of the While She Naps podcast we're talking about
publishing craft books with my guests, Sara Bercholz and Jennifer
Urban-Brown of Roost Books, an imprint of Shambhala.

Sara
is the Executive Vice President of Shambhala and the publisher of Roost
Books. She started Roost Books with Jenn in 2012. Shambhala was started
by her father, Sam Bercholz, in the 1960s and the company remains in
the family

And Jennifer Urban-Brown is an avid knitter, a B+
sewer, and a dabbling baker. She has been an editor at Roost Books /
Shambhala Publications since 2006, where she has the great privilege of
working on books that truly inspire her and that reflect the things she
cherishes most in life: creativity and community.

We talk about what makes a book a Roost Book, how to submit a proposal and what to expect when working with Roost.

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This episode is sponsored by Unanimous Craft.
Unanimous Craft is a website where you can find places to sell your
handmade and small batch work. This online index of brick and mortar
shops, online selling venues and craft shows around the country is
comprehensive, up to date, and easy to use. Visit unanimouscraft.com/naps for a special offer just for While She Naps listeners.

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Get the show notes for this episode on my blog, whileshenaps.com, where you can also sign up for my weekly email newsletter.

September 5th, 2016

I'm talking with Maddie Kertay, the founder of the BadAss Quilters Society, a Facebook page and blog devoted to diversity and inclusion in the quilting community. In this conversation Maddie talks about how she became a quilter and the incident which led her to feel she needed a place to talk openly about issues within the quilting industry that she feels need changing. Maddie's blog and Facebook posts often delve into race, class, gender, and sexuality in a way that is rarely seen within this community. Maddie realized that her point of view is not for everyone, but she is proud of the positive change she's been able to make along with the 16,000 people who follow the Facebook page.

Today's episode is sponsored by Unanimous Craft, an online index of shops and craft shows where you can sell your handmade and small batch wares. Check it out at UnanimousCraft.com and visit UnanimousCraft.com/naps for a special offer for While She Naps listeners. Than you, Unanimous Craft!

August 15th, 2016

On today's episode of the While She Naps podcast we’re talking about
making and selling handcrafted products with my guest Arounna Khounnoraj
of Bookhou.

Arounna Khounnoraj started Bookhou
with her husband, John Booth, in 2002 as a place to combine and market
their work. Both Arounna and John started out as artists - Arounna as a
sculptor and John as a painter - but as time passed their endeavors grew
to include ceramics, fiber arts, architecture and furniture making to
name only a few. nNeedless to say Bookhou defines itself as a
multidisciplinary studio where the husband and wife team explore a
variety of mediums both individually and collectively.

Most people, however, would probably know Arounna as a printmaker and
surface designer through her work in creating fabric bags, personal and
home items which showcase her unique pattern designs. In keeping with
their art studio roots, Arounna's work emphasizes the handmade and the
hand drawn utilizing references to both natural, botanical forms as well
as abstract patterns with simplicity of form uniting everything she
creates.

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This episode is sponsored by Teresa Ascone Art Tutorials. Have you ever wanted to try watercolor? Teresa Ascone's Etsy tutorials
for absolute beginners age 10 and older are PDF downloads with
easy-to-understand instructions, supply list, definitions, a full color
framable image of the art, and line drawing. The paintings can be
completed in less than 60 minutes. Check out all of Teresa's work on her website.

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Get the show notes for this episode on my blog, whileshenaps, where you can also sign up for my weekly email newsletter to get the best in sewing, blogging, and small business delivered right to your inbox.

August 1st, 2016

I'm talking with Annabel Wrigley. Annabel Wrigley is an Australian mom, author, and designer living in rural
Virginia. She owns Little Pincushion Studio, a space where she teaches children
everything they need to know in order to go forth and conquer the world of
sewing and creating. When she’s not teaching, she’s working on her “We Love to Sew” series of books published by C&T publishing. She also teaches classes
on Creativebug and designs fabric for Windham Fabrics.

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This episode is sponsored by Art Street Collective. Coloring is a great way to decompress and de-stress. Art Street Collective artists have several coloring books available from whimsical and cartoonish to Celtic knots and kaleidoscopes. Visit the art street collective website to see all the books available. Visit artstreetcollective.com to find books and DVDs on surface design, art quilting, bead embellishment and more by some of today's top fiber and quilt artists.

an Australian mom, author, and designer living in rural
Virginia. She owns Little Pincushion Studio, a space where she teaches children
everything they need to know in order to go forth and conquer the world of
sewing and creating. When she’s not teaching, she’s working on her “We Love to
Sew” series of books published by C&T publishing. She also teaches classes

July 18th, 2016

We're talking about craft book publishing with my guest, Amy Marson. Amy is the publisher at C&T publishing which also includes the Stash Books and FunStitch Studio imprints. We discuss how to pitch a craft book, how C&T markets new titles, Amy's position on advances and how a book can fit into an author's larger goals. And, of course, I ask Amy to recommend great stuff she's enjoying right now.

This episode is sponsored by QuiltWoman. QuiltWoman.com is your source for quilting and sewing patterns offering over 10,000 items by over 270 designers to retail and wholesale customers. Wholesale customers enjoy no minimum order and free U.S. shipping with a $60 order. Use the code ABBY at checkout to receive 10% off your order.